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Hi there - my first post here after a few years' membership, but in unfortunate circumstances as I'd like to ask you good people to keep an eye open for my dad's Wheatstone Boyd English concertina which we hope is merely lost, to reappear soon, but fear may have been stolen. My dad's name is Michael Ratliff - some of you may know of him from various folk and traditional music circles in the North East of England over the past 60 years. He was attending Cambridge Folk Festival over the weekend and helping with the Northumbrian music workshops, which is why he had his instruments with him, and he set down the concertina (in a small flight case, itself in a blue rucksack) while helping my mam into a wheelchair at the end of Friday night; when he returned to where his stuff was it'd gone. They're now en route back to Newcastle having informed the festival organisers, the police, Chris Algar (from whom it was originally purchased, and who'll recognise it immediately if it should pop up), Alistair Anderson (an old friend, who's played this box many times and will also recognise it), and various others via word of mouth and social media. But no leads yet. The box is a Wheatstone Boyd English concertina, as pictured, in exceptionally good condition. I've never seen or heard another as good and - like any Boyd - it cuts through in a session and always makes its presence felt. My dad's still a gigging musician in his 70s, having started in his teens, so this box is not only his pride and joy but also his means to work, to fundraise for the local hospice with other Northumbrian musicians, and to run the Blue Bell session in Northumberland. I'll loan him my Lachenal Boyd in the meantime but, as anyone who's compared a Wheatstone and a Lachenal Boyd will know, it's not quite in the same league. We know the serial number, in case somebody comes across a suspect instrument and would like to check. It's only got its original 5-fold bellows but they've been well maintained. The veneer and metalwork is in very good nick, despite this photo not being great. I'll be happy to answer any questions anyone has, and thanks in advance for any help! Admin: if this isn't in the right place, apologies! I saw a lost/stolen thread but it's closed and I couldn't reply; perhaps this could be added to that?

Rare H Boyd Concertina with case for sale. Purchased in 1999 from Chris Algar of Barleycorn Concertinas. Have handwritten invoices and notes from Chris to Gene. Concertina has metal ends with H Boyd in the metal work on the end. Label says Lechenal & Co, Patent Concertina, Manufacturers, London. 48 metal buttons, metal ends, 5 folds. No professional work done on the concertina since purchase in 1999. Concertina played by Gene, my late husband until 2006. Serial # 45843 pictured. Gene understood it was made in 1890. Kept in case, in heated and airconditioned home. Listed on http://www.ebay.com/itm/191654066174?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649 PayPal payment only. See Post #48 for detailed description of instrument by Cnet member Lawrence Reeves.